Sustainability Spotlight - October 2021 - High Energy Bills and Fixed or Low Income?
Written by: Rob Robinson, Sustainable Wheat Ridge member
The Energy Resource Center (ERC) is dedicated to making homes safer, more comfortable and more affordable. The ERC helps families winterize their homes and reduce their utility bills. The savings are an average of 25% on utility bills for the homes and families served. They work with income-qualified homeowners and renters. ERC is nonprofit offering qualified people FREE services. ERC is recommended by the Colorado Energy Office within the Governors’ office and the Sustainable Wheat Ridge committee.
Who qualifies?
If you qualify for the income-qualified Energy Assistance Program – LEAP – or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you automatically qualify for free assistance from ERC. Other automatic qualifiers include: SNAP, TANF. About two thirds of the clientele are senior citizens, living on a fixed income. Low-income families make up a large portion of the rest of that clientele.
If you are not enrolled in any of the preceding programs, to qualify your income has to be less than 60% of state median income guidelines. Scroll down on the ERC application web page here, and you will find a table that shows the low-income threshold.
What services are available?
ERC’s certified technicians evaluate the needs of the home and conduct a whole-home energy audit. These measurements then establish which services are needed and indicate the energy efficiency work to be done. This work may include a new furnace, water heater, refrigerator, insulation in the sub spaces, walls and attic, air sealing, weather stripping, air leakage and water saving measures, carbon monoxide and smoke detector installation, heat pumps, solar panels, new light bulbs and more -- at no cost to residents. ERC construction crews follow strict COVID-19 protocols.
These services are provided for:
- Mobile homes
- Modular homes
- Site built homes (single family, townhomes/condos, apartments)
- Homeowners
- Renters
- Landlords
How do I get started?
You can apply on-line, here. Or you can contact the local ERC:
Denver Metro Office
953 Decatur Street
Denver, Colorado 80204
Phone: (720) 236-1321
For more information, read the Colorado Public Radio article about ERC.
October Sustainability Updates
- The City of Wheat Ridge is partnering with Scraps Mile High again this year for the second annual Yard Waste Drop Off Weekend on Saturday, November 6 & Sunday, November 7 from 9:00a - 1:00p at Anderson Park in Wheat Ridge. Registration is required. For more information or to register, visit https://bit.ly/WRYardWaste2021.
- Sustainable Wheat Ridge is looking for new members! Applications are open now and will remain open until Friday, November 5. For more information or to apply, visit https://bit.ly/SWRapplication.
More about Sustainable Wheat Ridge
Sustainable Wheat Ridge is a resident-led committee that was established in 2018 to provide the city with recommendations to enhance the environmental sustainability of Wheat Ridge. Included in these recommendations are goals around preserving Wheat Ridge’s agricultural history, connecting local producers and consumers, and establishing partnerships to support local food production. Check out the full Sustainable Wheat Ridge action plan here!
